The Green Mark Incentive Scheme for Existing Buildings and Premises (GMIS-EBP) aims to encourage building owners and tenants to undertake Energy Improvement Works involving the installation of energy efficient equipment approved by BCA to achieve substantial improvements in energy efficiency. It provides a cash incentive amounting to up to 50% the Qualifying Costs incurred solely for the purposes of energy efficiency improvements in existing buildings and premises.

The Scheme is targeted mainly at the following buildings and premises:-

(a) Existing private commercial and business parks' buildings such as shopping malls, hotels, office buildings and other approved buildings.

(c) Tenanted premises such as offices, retail, restaurant and supermarkets.

The scheme will not be applicable to buildings from the public sector as such projects have already being substantially funded by the government. Industrial buildings and residential buildings are also not eligible.

WHO CAN APPLY

The incentive applies to:

(a) Building owners who are Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

(b) Building owners with at least 10% of its tenants who are SMEs.

(c) Tenants who are SMEs.

The definition of SME, in accordance with SPRINGs definition is:

Minimum 30% local shareholding AND

Company's Group annual sales turnover not more than S$100 million OR Company's Group employment size not more than 200 workers

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

For applicants who are building owners, please refer to the Application Guidelines for Building Owners.

For applicants who are tenants, please refer to the Application Guidelines for Tenants.

All applications must be lodged before the start of the energy improvement works.s

QUALIFYING CRITERIA AND CO-FUNDING AMOUNT

Building Owners

In order for the eligible building owners to qualify for this incentive, they must achieve the required BCA Green Mark rating (based on the respective Green Mark assessment criteria) and the respective qualifying criteria such as air-conditioning system efficiency, as shown in the tables below. The amount of co-funding will vary depending on the Green Mark rating and the respective qualifying criteria that is achieved.

For buildings using water-cooled chilled water system

Co-funding Rate

Cap Amount

Green Mark Rating

+

Aircon System Efficiency (kW/RT)

+

Airside Efficiency (kW/RT)*

35%

$1,500,000

Gold or better

0.7

0.28

40%

$2,250,000

GoldPlus or better

0.65

0.25

50%

$3,000,000

Platinum

0.6

0.22

*Requirement for Airside Efficiency is applicable only when EE works include replacement of AHU/FCU

For buildings using Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) System

Co-funding Rate

Cap Amount

Green Mark Rating

+

Aircon System Efficiency for VRF (kW/RT)*

35%

$500,000

Gold or better

0.9 or better

40%

$600,000

GoldPlus or better

0.85 or better

50%

$700,000

Platinum

0.75 or better

*Additional eligibility criteria:

GFA ≤ 8,000 m2

Achieve minimum 10% energy savings for Total Building Energy Consumption

*Requirement for Airside Efficiency is applicable only when EE works include replacement of AHU/FCU

Tenants

In order for the eligible tenants to qualify for this incentive, they must achieve the required BCA Green Mark rating (based on the respective Green Mark assessment criteria) and the respective qualifying criteria such as Energy Efficient Index (EEI) and lighting power budget, as shown in the tables below. The amount of co-funding will vary depending on the Green Mark rating and the respective qualifying criteria that is achieved.

For Office tenants

Co-funding Rate

Cap Amount

Green Mark Rating

+

EEI (kWh/m2/yr)

Proposed Lighting Power Budget (W/m2)

40%

$30,000

Certified & Gold

No requisite

10 or lower

50%

$40,000

GoldPlus or better

75 or lower

9 or lower

For other types of tenants (retail, restaurant or supermarket)

Co-funding Rate

Cap Amount

Green Mark Rating

+

Lighting Power Budget (W/m2)

Retail & Supermarket

Restaurant

40%

$20,000

Certified & Gold

25 or lower

15 or lower

50%

$30,000

GoldPlus or better

23 or lower

13 or lower

*Additional requirement: Must install sub-metering for lightings and receptacle loads

QUALIFYING COST

The qualifying costs or co-funding rates include the cost of the supply and installation of the approved energy efficient equipment and professional services fees. The approved energy efficient equipment includes chiller plant (chiller, pumps and cooling towers), energy efficient lightings such as T5 and LED, sensors, BAS system, etc. Please refer to the Application Guidelines for the List of Commonly Approved Energy Efficiency Equipment & Energy Improvement works.

DISBURSEMENT OF INCENTIVES

For building owners, the cash incentives would be disbursed over 3 stages:

The 1st disbursement is for the reimbursement of the professional services and will be given out upon applicants acceptance of the Letter of Offer for this scheme and upon Green Mark certification.

The 2nd disbursement is 50% of the [Total Incentive Amount minus the 1st disbursement] = 50% x [Total Incentive Amount -- 1st disbursement]. The 2nd disbursement will be paid out upon completion of the energy improvement works and verification of the aircon system efficiency.

The final disbursement is the Total Incentive Amount minus 1st and 2nd disbursement = Total Incentive Amount – 1st disbursement – 2nd disbursement. The final disbursement will be paid out one year after the date of completion of the energy improvement works and upon verification of the aircon system efficiency achieved.

For tenants, the cash incentives would be disbursed after the completion of the energy improvement works and upon Green Mark certification and verification.

EFFECTIVE DATE

The GMIS-EBP is effective from 1 October 2014 and will expire on 30 April 2019 or when the GMIS-EBP fund is fully disbursed, whichever earlier. Participation in the scheme will be on a first-come-first served basis, subject to availability of funds.